Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Day started with reports that Armenia human rights ombudsman office calls for a... "day of silence" on Human Rights Day. ["ՀՀ մարդու իրավունքների պաշտպանի գրասենյակը դեկտեմբերի 10-ը հայտարարել է Լռության օր:"] Very telling of the ombudsman. Over the last year he either kept silence on human rights abuses or - worse - effectively became part of it, by siding with neo-nazi and homophobia. Instead, activists did what they should do on Human Rights Day - act, speak out, protest for human rights.

This year, human rights march in Yerevan was a rare display of diversity and unity. Organised by opposition Armenian National Congress, today's march was unique in a way it was able to unite people of various political, social and ethnic backgrounds, including anarchists, LGBT activists, feminists, with a wide rights agenda.

There were no attacks towards bearers of rainbow flag, like during anti-Putin demo a week ago, even police was behaving pretty civilised. [see P.S. towards the end] It was like a dream come true, even if for a moment. But this is a picture of Armenia I want to see more and more often, and eventually as a matter of routine.

"Everyone is different, everyone is equal" - as per reports, activists were chanting this slogan during the march too. Guys, you rock!!

I love this video by epress.am. Pay attention to feminist statement towards the beginning of the video; also what people chanting when passing by Russian embassy; and in general the sense of diversity and unity. Awesome.

And another cool video with rainbow flag, feminist symbolism and "Secular Armenia" poster.

P.S. After this post was published, I was told that there was small incident after the march when woman war veteran tried shouting at activist Lala Aslikyan to put down rainbow flag. But the incident did not get escalated to any significant effect.

It was also a historic day for Armenian LGBT rights movement. A well known brave activist Lala Aslikyan brought a rainbow flag, symbol of LGBT rights movement, to the protest march. Big respects, Lala !!

She made history today by holding rainbow flag during a protest action in Armenia. For the first time ever.

After the march she was followed by police and detained along with other fellow activists, although there is no indication that they were detained because of holding rainbow flag, but rather as part of a massive crackdown on all anti-regime, anti-Putin activists. They were later released.

But apart from being forcibly taken away and detained by police, holding rainbow flag didn’t pass without an incident.

Lala and friends were attacked and harassed by members of ultra-nationalist, neo-nazi like Hayazn group that recently transformed into a party. This was the same group that attacked Diversity march last year, as well as screening of gay-themed Parada film in Yerevan. They were part of diverse groups and individuals (ranging from ultra-nationalist, far right to very liberal) taking part in a protest action against Russian president visit and against Armenia ruling regime decision to join Russia led customs union. [see below videos of the attack]

Lala (and friend) bravely defended her right, as a free citizen, to march with the flag she prefers, saying that no one can interfere with her decision and she will hold the flag regardless of any hostility.

Activists were successful in defending the flag. It remained with them without being torn down or taken away.

Remember this date: 2 December 2013. This was the first time ever in Armenian history that a rainbow flag was held at a protest action. Interestingly, that particular flag has a history of its own. It was used in Genocide memorial day protests in front of the Turkish Embassy in Paris for several years in 2000s.

Of course, the appearance of rainbow flag will be exploited by pro-Russian forces who are full of scare mongering tactics, equalling EU with being gay. But hey, they have been doing that for months now, regardless of rainbow flag appearance. Indeed, it is very relevant to have rainbow flag during any protest action against Putin, taking into account his anti-gay policies in Russia and their influence on surrounding post-Soviet countries.

Sunday, 3 November 2013

Here we are. Not only Armenia human rights ombudsman flirts with neo-nazi but uses anti-gay undertones to ask for more money from the state budget.

Responding to journalists questions, after trying to secure more money for his agency from the state budget, he reiterated his intention to be consistent to get rid of “moral perversion”. Once again, he was referring to trans sex workers and gay cruising area. Exploitation of this issue in Armenia is simply used to fuel anti-gay prejudice and discrimination. Ombudsman knows this pretty well, and wants to re-invent himself as a fighter for “morality”. Ha!

What was worse, as a ground for his statement he cited neo-nazi web site (!) and their article full of homophobia and hatred.

In past, I did have hopes that this ombudsman may have devotion to human rights. But apparently he was simply playing a role at a time when Armenia was seemingly on a path to European integration. Now, with the decision to join Russia led Customs Union, there is no longer need to play a ‘human rights devotee’.

The institute of human rights ombudsman is supposed to be an important body to safeguard human rights of citizens. However, if this institute is led by people like Andreasyan, whether we have such institute or not, will not be making any difference.

Either human rights ombudsman has to be someone who is devoted to the notion of human rights, or I’d say ditch the institute altogether and divert the state budget money to other areas, e.g. pension.
I would also advise international human rights bodies and foreign embassies in Armenia to stop taking ombudsman Karen Andreasyan seriously and not wasting their time and resources on him.

Wednesday, 30 October 2013

More than two-dozen prominent Armenians in the Diaspora have signed a statement supporting equality and justice for all in Armenia. Among the signatories are poet Diana Der Hovanessian,
filmmaker Atom Egoyan, actor and producer Arsinée Khanjian, musician Serj Tankian, and photographer Scout Tufankjian. This array of Armenian artists, intellectuals and professionals felt moved to release this statement in the light of anti-gay legislation that was recently proposed in Yerevan. “This anti-gay legislation is part of a disturbing pattern of intolerance for marginalized people and opposition voices in Armenia,” said publisher Veken Gueyikian. Writer Nancy Agabian said, “People of conscience must not stand by as our LGBT cousins are targeted and demonized.” The statement represents their collective commitment to human rights and to Armenia’s nascent civil society movements.

Statement

“In response to reports of draft ‘anti-propaganda’ legislation in Armenia, modeled on Russia’s recently passed and widely condemned bill, we, the undersigned members of the global Armenian community, say such attempts to codify anti-gay prejudice into law are contrary to our values. We believe in dignity, equality and the right to self-expression for all people regardless of religion, sexual orientation, gender, or race.”

Monday, 28 October 2013

I kind of knew I would like it but didn’t expect I would enjoy Charles Aznavour concert at Royal Albert Hall that much. It was full house. It was a definition of awesomeness.

Until last Friday, I didn’t know he was so well known and appreciated in Britain. It was announced during the concert that Terry Wogan was in attendance too, along with other prominent British presence + Armenians and French, of course.

Almost 90 years old, still with amazing vocal ...and some cute dancing skills too.

He first performed it in front of his gay friends. Their reaction was... silence. Charles thought they didn't like it. But they asked: who is going to perform such song? Me. In front of public? Are you going to introduce it somehow? You are a father, you have children. Why, just because I sing a song about gay man I should justify something? And he did perform it. In public. Without justifying anything. It was instantly accepted by public. With his performance and public’s acceptance, he made it into France prime time ...with a broadcast every single day! In early 70s. Nothing like this could have happened in the USA, remarked Aznavour. But it happened in France.

I never seen anything like this in London before. Non-stop standing ovations for Charles Aznavour.

The Armenian Gay and Lesbian Association of New York is alarmed that in August 2013 the Armenian police proposed a ban on “promoting non-traditional sexual relationships”, which would effectively target LGBT people in Armenia with prejudice. We call for the President, Prime Minister, and Parliament to strike down any further attempts to legislate discrimination against LGBT Armenians.

After the DIY bar bombing and attack on a cultural diversity march in Yerevan in May of 2012, it was clear that intervention was needed to guarantee human rights. But little has been done. Some LGBT Armenians, productive members of society, have been forced to leave Armenia after the events of last May in order to escape threats to their lives. The DIY firebombers have been sentenced with little more than a slap on the wrist. Recent violent threats against organizations that work for gender equality indicate the need for more protection, not persecution.

The police proposed Article 47.7 to the Administrative Violations Code, which threatened the civil rights of LGBT people and any individual or organization who would discuss LGBT issues in public. Though the bill was withdrawn, it seems it was only because it was poorly drafted, suggesting the motivation was merely an expression by the police of prejudice. The fact that the wording of the bill echoes legislation in Russia is even more disturbing, given the levels of violence waged against LGBT people there since its passage. Now that Armenia has signed on to a Customs Union with Russia, it seems the situation is dire, and that continuing emulation of Russian laws will follow.

AGLA NY and members of the Diaspora have been watching signs of human rights violations in Armenia with growing concern. We now ask the government to follow its own constitution in guaranteeing the rights of all its citizens by taking a stand against any future attempts to legislate against LGBT people.
***[in Armenian]

Sunday, 27 October 2013

Impressed that presidential candidates in Georgia were questioned on their views re "sexual minority rights". This is in itself a progress. Example to other countries in the region.

For the first time in the region, both main candidates were not afraid of publicly expressing their stance re LGBT rights, especially as this was generally in line with the protection of human rights for all and non-discrimination. They were not afraid that their views could alienate voters in a country where homophobia is widespread and fueled by highly influential Orthodox church.

However, in comparison, I consider the answer of Giorgi Margvelashvili (Georgian Dream) to be the best out of all candidates.

Sexual minority rights

"What do you think on protection of sexual minority rights and their better integration in socio-political life?"

*WWW.PREZIDENTI.GE has been created to foster an informed political debate on the issues that are important to the Georgian society for upcoming Presidential Elections of October, 27. The Project: Support to the Development of Democratic Institutions in the South Caucasus is funded by the Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands to Georgia.To these ends, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) invited the registered presidential candidates to respond to 20 specific and policy related questions. Every candidate could have provided no more than 250 words when answering each of these questions.Website is available in 4 languages: Georgian, Armenian, Azeri and English.

Main candidates

Margvelashvili Giorgi » represents current PM Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream party
The objective of a democratic state is to protect the rights of every citizen. The protection of minority rights should be specially emphasised. The modern democracy consists in balancing rule by majority with the protection of minority. It takes a lot of attention and efforts to ensure that decisions made by majority do not restrict the minority rights.
The government should never allow any discrimination, persecution or oppression of humans on any grounds. At the same time, it must create conditions for full and creative self-expression of every human being.

Bakradze David » represents the outgoing president Saakashvili’s United National Movement
The UNM considers any discrimination, any restrictions of political and civil rights on any grounds as inacceptable. While remaining faithful to the essence of common beliefs about family relationships, it condemns any violence and expressions of xenophobia against members of sexual minorities.

Other candidates

Asatiani Akaki » Union of Georgian Traditionalists
According to current Georgian legislation, the rights of sexual minorities are protected. Our task would be to steadily follow the legislation.

Bobokhidze Teimuraz » Initiative group
The Georgian legislation, to the extent I know, does not put any restriction to the right of sexual minorities. Some people think the violation of right is the fact that representative of these minorities does not have the right to go through a service of marriage and to live together without benefit of clergy. Well, I believe they are allowed to get employed; they have free, unimpeded access to schools and colleges. If there are not, then it is up to the court of law to decide what the matter is in each specific case.

Burjanadze Nino » Democratic Movement - United Georgia
The persons of non-traditional sexual orientation should enjoy the same rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia and shall have the same responsibilities, as the citizens of traditional orientation. In Georgia it's always been and will always be so.
The President should be the guarantor and protector of rights of each citizen.

Chikhladze Giorgi » Initiative group
All citizens of Georgia have equal rights of participation in social life, despite their sexual orientation. The equality of rights is protected by the law, based on respective protective mechanisms.

Javakhidze Sergo » Justice for Georgia
The state shall care for its citizens including the rights of its sexual minorities and shall facilitate their integration into political and social life.

Kharatishvili Zurab » European Democrats of Georgia
Georgia is a part of the Christian civilization and lives according to the respective rules. Such values as inviolability of life, right of property, institute of family, personal and national dignity are important for us.
I think that each person should feel him/her a worthy member of a society, and difference according to this or that feature must not be a basis of violation or restriction of right. More exactly, we will not restrict anybody by ethnic affiliation and will not announce nontraditional sexual orientation a criminal offence. This concerns the private affair of a person and is not a business of the state or policy. The state on the one hand must ensure strengthening of the state status of the Georgian language, and on the other hand -finance and promote learning of Georgian by the ethnic minorities. As well, the state must in every way strengthen the institute of traditional family and on the other hand - do not allow violation in respect of people with nontraditional sexual orientation.
At the same time it should be mentioned that we will not support the institute of same-sex marriage, because this contradicts the traditional concept of a marriage. Why we should change the contents of the concept of a marriage? We know that a marriage is a union between man and woman. In the same-sex marriage this means the union of two any person. In such case I would ask - why only two? It is understandable that this carries us to the point of absurdity.

Margiani Avtandili » Initiative group
Historically the rights of sexual minorities in Georgia have never been violated, it is not violated now and considering the general tolerance of our nation, it will not be violated in the future. Being a sexual minority always meant maintaining of low profile or keeping of one’s private life in secret. Advertising and arrangement of sexual minority demonstrations/parades will facilitate debauchery, which shall be prohibited from moral standpoint.

Mzhavia Teimuraz » Christian-Democratic People’s Party
The given question has several aspects - a right in general, exercising of the right and argumentation of the conceptual approach to the issue. The right of the sexual minorities to carry out actions corresponding to their own choice, is regulated by the appropriate legislative act „The framework convention of the Council of Europe concerning protection of the sexual minorities“, which does not allow anybody to interfere in the above mentioned choice, and in my opinion also envisages that representatives of the sexual minorities may not demand from the so called sexual majority in this or that form unconditional recognition of their choice. This provision is unequivocally written in the above mentioned legislative act. I think the state should actively participate in balancing of differing interests. Otherwise its activity will not be justified, and as to the issue of provision of their equal rights in the social-political life of the country, it is to be considered in the context of protection of rights of any men/women. The basis of the main argument of my conceptual approach to the given issue, as the concrete citizen, is the unconditional recognition of the fact that the first source of development of the world or maintenance of its viability, of evolution itinerary and the dynamics of dialectic regularities, that from the scientific point of view unconditionally depends on male and female relations not only in the biological organic sector of the world, but, as the modern science states, even in its inorganic part itself; when a human being opposes the stable foundations of the evolution of a man, it calls into question even the perspective of existence of the man. I would state sincerely that I do not want that the mankind be in front of the choice, when his right will be on one dish of scales, and on the other - an issue of his/her very existence in the world.

Natelashvili Shalva » Labour party of Georgia
Representatives of sexual minorities in Georgia have always participated in social and political life, they are inseparable parts of the social and political development of our country today, and I am sure they neither have nor had any problems with that. However, I do not think it is either fair or correct to demonstrate your sexual orientation in the streets having said that, I oppose any kind of violence.

Saluashvili Mikheil » Initiative group
Every citizen of Georgia, regardless of his sexual orientation paraded or covered, should have the equal rights. According to the Christian morality, it is necessary to fight against any form of sin, and not the person who committed this sin.

Targamadze Giorgi » Christian-Democratic Movement
Private life is inviolable. Therefore, the state cannot interfere unduly with the establishment of sexual orientation of specific people and their participation into social or political life. However, if equality means civil legal relationship such as marriage, then adopting children by same sex couples is naturally absolutely inacceptable. On the contrary, draft constitutional amendment had been proposed, pursuant to which the state shall recognize and uphold the marriage only between a woman and a man. Current edition of the Constitution does not specify the parties of the marriage and stipulates their equal rights only. Therefore, according to researchers’ opinion, Civil Code contradicts with the Constitution of Georgia and chances to win the case of an individual appeal to the Constitutional Court are very high. Thus, same sex marriage can be considered legal in Georgia not through the adoption of certain bylaws, but by announcing the existing norm as an un-constitutional. Suggested draft involves the edition of the Constitutional norm that is accepted by the Constitution of EU member countries, such as Lithuania, Latvia and Hungary.

A group of peaceful activists staged a protest in Yerevan today during a “High Level Conference on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Europe” organized by the Council of Europe. The conference takes place in the frramework of theArmenian Chairmanshipof the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE).

Recall, according to the CoE website: “During the conference the participants will have the opportunity to reflect upon racism and xenophobia in political discourse, the role of human rights institutions in combating racial and ethnic discrimination, as well as topics related to combating hate speech and racial stereotypes on social networks and media.”

At 10:15 am, demonstrators protested outside the Armenia Marriott Hotel, where the conference was being held, pointing to the hypocrisy of Armenia’s authorities organizing such a conference. The activists recalled Armenian authorities’ reactions after the bombing of gay-friendly bar DIY, the threats against women’s rights organizations, and discrimination against members of the LGBT community.

The placards the activists held depicted the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) Coat of Arms, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, RA Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Khachik Asryan, and National Assembly Vice-President, HHK spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov.

When RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian declared the conference had begun, the activists entered the hall where the conference was being held with the placards in hand.

Hotel security personnel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff, and the police attempted to escort them outside, but activists stood with their placards in front of the invited guests and stayed for about half an hour while the conference continued.

A number of protesters broke security and entered the conference hall at Armenia Marriott Hotel in Yerevan today to make their message heard by participants of an international event taking place there.
The high-level conference attended by Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland is entitled “Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Europe”. The activists held banners accusing the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) of “xenophobia and racism” and raising issues of women’s and LGBT people’s rights in Armenia. In particular, they accused senior RPA member Edward Sharmazanov as well as leading representative of the opposition Dashnaktsutyun party Artsvik Minasyan of supporting those who bomb-fired an LGBT-friendly bar in Yerevan in May 2012. The banners also mentioned another RPA member, Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Khachik Asryan, who called for burning an oppositionist at the stake over her critical comments earlier this month.

Activists protesting state sponsored discrimination and intolerance towards women and other minorities in Armenia, greeted participants as they entered Yerevan’s Marriott Hotel this morning for a conference entitled “Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Europe”
Holding banners accusing the ruling Republican Party in Armenia and its officials as actually fomenting “hate crime”, the activists argued that the government itself should be the focus of the conference.

Any measures to limit LGBT peoples’ freedom of expression and assembly on the basis of their sexual or gender identity would further reflect the Armenian government’s noncompliance with its obligations to promote tolerance towards LGBT people and protect them against discrimination. They could also possibly condone homophobia and transphobia, which contributes to a climate of hatred and violence.

We are writing to express our concern regarding a proposal for legislative amendments that appeared on the website of the Police of the Republic of Armenia on August 5. The proposals sought to add two articles to the Code of Administrative Offenses outlawing the “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations,” a move that would be in clear violation of freedom of expression and discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

The police have since removed the proposal from its website, and media reports indicate that there are no immediate plans for parliament to consider it. However, we are concerned that other institutions may seek to introduce similar proposals and ask that you ensure that such measures are forcefully opposed as incompatible with international human rights law and would not advance for parliamentary debate.

The proposal claimed the ban would “protect” Armenian families. It would impose fines of up to 350 times Armenia’s minimum wage on citizens, public officials, and legal entities who breach the law. The proposal did not define “propaganda” or “nontraditional sexual relations.”

The broad wording of the proposal meant that it could have been used to restrict the rights of human rights organizations, civil society groups, or anyone else who works on issues such as the rights of LGBT people or sex workers. It also would have discriminated against LGBT people on grounds of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Armenian civil society organizations learned of the proposal only when it was published on the website of the Police of the Republic of Armenia.

Measures such as those proposed by the police are illegal under international human rights instruments that Armenia is obliged to uphold. They impose unjustified – and therefore unlawful – restrictions on the freedoms of expression and assembly, in violation of articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights and articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Armenia is a party to both. They also violate the international prohibition on discrimination, guaranteed by both instruments.

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has unanimously adopted a set of recommendations (CM/Rec (2010)5) to member states, including Armenia, on measures to combat discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. The recommendations invite the member states to ensure that the stipulated principles and measures are applied in national legislation, policies, and practices relevant to the protection of LGBT people. Relevant recommendations are:

Examine existing legislative and other measures, keep them under review, and collect and analyze relevant data, in order to monitor and redress any direct or indirect discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity;

Ensure that legislative and other measures are adopted and effectively implemented to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, to ensure respect for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons and to promote tolerance towards them.

Measures such as those in the proposal directly contradict the Council of Europe recommendations.

Civil society organizations in Armenia have expressed concern over the government’s failure to protect the social, economic and political rights of LGBT people. LGBT people continue to face discrimination in accessing employment and healthcare, as well as violence in the army and in families. The government has yet to pass a law banning hate crimes in Armenia, leaving LGBT people vulnerable to abuses such as the repeated homophobic attacks against the DIY pub during May 2012. A draft law currently under consideration by parliament outlawing discrimination on the grounds of sex, ethnicity, and age omits sexual orientation from its considerations.

Any measures to limit LGBT peoples’ freedom of expression and assembly on the basis of their sexual or gender identity would further reflect the Armenian government’s noncompliance with its obligations to promote tolerance towards LGBT people and protect them against discrimination. They could also possibly condone homophobia and transphobia, which contributes to a climate of hatred and violence.

We call on the Armenian government to support LGBT peoples’ human rights and take actions to curb the passage of any measures that violate the European Convention on Human Rights and other international instruments to which Armenia is party.

Below is a brief outline in English, accompanied by pictures of original French article. Many thanks to Adrineh for translation.

***
"Denounced by their own family. Banned by an army that considers them mentally ill. Violated and beaten without the police coming to their aid. Armenia is a hostile land for homosexuals, bisexuals, and, a fortiori, for transsexuals and transvestites. Many of them choose exile where they benefit from refugee status."

Then the article mentions a few details of a few of the trans sex workers. These sex workers are violated, beaten but the police don't help them, and in fact, says it's their fault. "Each night, we go out never knowing if we will be alive tomorrow," says Aram. Transsexualism is not recognised in Armenia and even less accepted, liked to a psychological pathology and mixed up with homosexuality.

The article cites PINK Armenia's 2011 survey in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor: 72.1% of those asked have a negative perception of homosexuality and 71.5% believe the state should take measures to "combat it". They cite a psychologist named Davit Galstian: "There's a real phobia of homosexuals in our society; they are considered like beasts". Also cites an Armenian AIDS Center statistic that "only 2%" of AIDS cases were identified as being "related to homosexual practices".

Next section talks about the work of PINK Armenia: not only promoting sexual health and education, but also protecting the rights of the LGBT community. Head of PINK Armenia Mamikon Hovsepyan is cited. Mamikon mentions that though sex between two men was decriminalised in 2003, thus fulfilling one of the conditions of Armenia joining the Council of Europe and though in 2008, Armenia ratified the UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity, no legislation exists today to condemn discrimination, the inciting of violence or hate crimes or [hate] speech against people because of their sexual orientation. This legal vacuum was illustrated in May 2012 with the attack on gay-friendly bar DIY.

This fuelled a rise in violence against the LGBT community, not only by political actors from all sides, overtly oppressive, denouncing them (LGBT) as unacceptable and a menace to Armenian society, but also by religious authorities and local media, which relay messages of homophobic impunity.

The article mentions the Diversity March, 21 May 2012, and the counter-demonstrators who said "Send the homosexuals to Baku" and "Armenia without homosexuals". Article mentions Parada film screening which had to be postponed and finally cancelled because of extremist groups.

"In this context, there is hardly any other choice for many than exile." Article concludes by saying that many go abroad (get a visa for Europe), notably France, get refugee status under the category of being persecuted because of sexual orientation in Armenia.

According to Mamikon Hovsepyan, head of Pink Armenia, about 10 LGBT Armenians a year let them know of being exempted from serving in the army by the MoD order under the article 8(b) (‘mental health problems’). Of course, the real number of such exemptions could be much higher, as many people simply “do not inform us or are not aware of us”, says Mamikon in an interview with newsbook.am.

This is a controversial issue, as when LGBT people disclose their orientation, the army representatives tell them that the sexual orientation is not a ground for being exempted from serving in the army, hinting that perhaps ‘we will discover other health problems’, i.e. mental health, so that to fit the article 8(b).

On one hand, it is outrageous that for army purposes the sexual orientation is being equalled to having a mental health problem. On the other hand, as Mamikon rightly pointed out, while the issue of violence and bullying in the Armenian army applies to recruits of all orientations, including “traditional orientation”, LGBT recruits are much more vulnerable and subjected to more violence, bullying and isolation after their sexual orientation (real or perceived) become known.

In an interview (see below video, in Armenian), head of PINK Armenia touches upon the overall state with LGBT rights in the country, as well as possible implications of Armenia joining Russia sponsored customs union.

Saturday, 12 October 2013

Apparently, Armenia human rights ombudsman Karen Andreasyan has solved all the pressing human rights issues in Armenia and now calling for the police... to eliminate prostitution and target in particular trans sex workers and gay cruising area.

It is simply astonishing to see the type of language human rights ombudsman is using, full of discrimination and references to the notion of “morality”.

"It is necessary to eliminate such moral perversity because it is not only immoral, but also illegal" - just an example of kind of wording that the human rights ombudsman (!) using in his statement.

It’s as if in past he was at least trying to act in accordance to his position, but now with Armenia’s decision to join Russia sponsored customs union, ombudsman came out the real self, in full disgrace.

Even more scandalous is the fact that as a 'basis' to his statement ombudsman Karen Andreasyan cites neo-nazi Armenian Aryan Union website's utterly homophobic, full of hate link. [see below screenshot and full statement in Armenian - with a reference to the link on hayary(dot)org]

Monday, 23 September 2013

Renewed homophobic hysteria surrounding gender equality law in Armenia [recommended reading: The ‘Gender Equality Law’ Hysteria in Armenia - The Armenian Weekly] led to further displays of hateful posters on the streets of Yerevan (some previous examples - here), as well as direct threats to attack women's rights and other progressive groups.

Sunday, 15 September 2013

Azeri LGBT website Gay.azreports that a week ago, on 7 September 2013, for the first time some LGBT activists walked the streets of Baku with a rainbow flag. Two activists are pictured on the website, seating and standing with a rainbow flag in Azerbaijan capital Baku.

This was not a “pride celebration”, “march” or “mini-rally”, as wrongly indicated by PinkNews and Gay Star News, or anything remotely close to that scale.

This was an attempt at making statement on visibility, albeit with covered faces.

Considering a poor state with human rights in Azerbaijan with virtually non-visible LGBT community, this is a positive small but brave step forward.

About Equality California: Equality California is the largest statewide LGBT advocacy organization in California working to secure full and lasting equality for and acceptance of LGBT people. More info...

Sunday, 1 September 2013

It’s been 5 years already that British Council Armenia organises Na/Ne media competition on “issues relating to the gender equality in general” and how “particular publications or stories have resulted or may soon result in positive changes.” According to the British Council Armenia website, all published or broadcast materials should cover “the activities and achievements, problems and challenges of women in political, economic and social spheres. All publications should be presented from the gender equality perspective.” [emphasis mine]
British Embassy in Armenia is a co-founder of Na/Ne Media Award.

February 2013. TV personality Lusine Badalyan, more known as Lulu, was a co-host of Na/Ne gender equality media awards ceremony by British Council Armenia. [Lulu worked in homophobic radio Van station, now TV host in Kentron TV station owned by oligarch MP Tsarukyan, head of Prosperous Armenia party]

August 2013. Lulu joins anti-gender equality law hysteria by a series of comments, status updates on Facebook, as well as by inviting and agreeing with homophobic individuals, conspiracy theory fans, who are among those who provoke anti-gender equality and homophobic hysteria on- and off-line.

In a series of TV programmes she hosts, Lulu repeatedly agrees with such people, including members of so called “Pan-Armenian parents committee”, a copycat of similar Russian structure that spreads hatred online and in Armenian media towards LGBT, as well as targets individuals and women’s rights groups for their work on gender equality.

She agrees “completely” with all the conspiracy theories that her guests introduce and claims she will not agree for her children’s teacher to be member of other than Armenian church ‘official’ religion or homosexual. Lulu also complains that “pure Armenians” are the minority in Armenia. She commits to fight against gender equality laws. [example 1; and example 2 with Armenian version of Russia’s Mizulina - there are more examples, these are for illustration purposes]

Lulu also posted a hand-written letter on her FB, as if out of compassion, of a gay person who wanted to be “cured of homosexuality”.

***
And here are more examples of hypocrisy, this time by another TV personality, Armenia TV host Nazeni Hovhannisyan, who apparently felt that she could preach morality to others.

“We should not remain SILENT. Watch this - this will only take 10 minutes of your life but perhaps then we will WIN centuries" - This is a suggestion by Nazeni to her Faceboook followers to watch hateful, filled with conspiracy theories video about gender equality 'destroying Armenian families', full with homophobia and targeting women’s rights groups and individuals. This video was prepared by so called “Pan-Armenian parents committee”, a copycat of similar Russian groups.